Overview

I am a social psychologist with an interest in social, psychological and environmental factors that impact on health and well-being in later life. I have been involved in applied health research looking at well-being among stroke survivors and those living with dementia, as well as looking more broadly at experiences of ageing, ageism and loneliness in later life.

Google scholar profile

ResearchGate profile

Twitter: @RuthALamont

Projects

The CoGS study: Community Groups for Post-Stroke Support.

‘Happy to Share Cards’: A community-based initiative aimed at reducing loneliness and social isolation.

Improving the experience of dementia and enhancing active life: the IDEAL study

The ‘A Life More Ordinary’ project: learn more from ITV report, the Alzheimer’s Society blog and press release.

PhD research: Applying social psychological theories to examine how age stereotypes negatively impact older adults’ cognitive and physical abilities, health and well-being.

 

Qualifications

2011-2015 PhD in Social Psychology (University of Kent)

2010-2011 MSc in Social and Applied Psychology (University of Kent)

2007-2010 BSc in Psychology and Sociology (University of Kent)

Back to top

Research

Research interests

I am a social psychologist with an interest in social, psychological and environmental factors that impact on health and well-being in later life. I have been involved in applied health research looking at well-being among stroke survivors and those living with dementia, as well as looking more broadly at experiences of ageing, ageism and loneliness in later life.

Stroke: I currently manage the Stroke Association funded CoGS study: 'Community Groups for Post-Stroke Support'. Beyond the impairments that stroke can leave people with, it can also create challenges for people in social settings and increase chances of isolation. The CoGS study is surveying people from post-stroke support groups across the UK to understand the role that peer support can play in improving outcomes after stroke. In particular, the study will explore the role that psychological connection to the group plays in determining its effectiveness (drawing on social identity theory).

Dementia: I have worked extensively on the IDEAL programme which looks at people’s experiences of living with dementia longitudinally, both those with the condition and friends/family supporting them. The study has provided insights into factors that enable people to live better with dementia. My work on the project has focused on psychological factors that promote well-being, such as self-esteem, self-efficacy and optimism.

Nature: I worked on the ‘A Life More Ordinary’ project, an arts-based project working with people living with dementia to share their experiences: see our ITV report, the Alzheimer’s Society blog and press release. Through the project, I saw the important role that purposeful and nature-based activity can play in promoting physical and psychological health, and social connection for people with dementia and those supporting them. Keen to develop this line of work further, I have obtained funding to begin a project entitled 'Optimising the design and implementation of community-based gardening initiatives for people with dementia'.

Ageism and loneliness: I am interested more broadly in how people experience ageing, and the social and psychological determinants of this. My research has explored people’s attitudes to ageing, as well as looking at the way that age stereotyping can impact on the competencies and well-being of older adults (drawing on stereotype threat theory). I continue to publish in this area along with colleagues at the Centre for the Study of Group Processes and European Research Group on Attitudes to Age. I am also working with Recovery Devon to look at their ‘Happy to Share Cards’ initiative. This simple idea aims to bring people together in the community and fight against loneliness and social isolation.

Funding:

2020: ESRC Co-creation Fund, application entitled 'Optimising the design and implementation of community-based gardening initiatives for people with dementia' (£17,210)

2019: ESRC Impact Cultivation Fund, application entitled 'Happy to Share Cards: A community-based initiative aimed at reducing loneliness and social isolation' (£1600)

2017: ESRC Festival of Social Science 2017, funding for the event ‘Cultural and Personal Reflections on Dementia’ (£940)

2016: University of Exeter, Postgraduate and Early Career Engagement Award (£1000)

2015: University of Kent, Public Engagement with Research Fund, application entitled ‘Developing and Expanding the Kent Adult Research Unit to Enhance Public Engagement with Research’ (£1700)

2014: ESRC funded, 6 month internship at the Cabinet Office Government Innovation Group (funded accommodation, travel and maintenance)

2014: University of Kent Vice-Chancellor’s discretionary funding to support the British Psychological Societies’ Social Psychology Postgraduate Conference (£200)

2012: Bursary received to cover costs of attending a two-day conference on "Web surveys for the General Population" (ESRC through NCRM)

2010: 1+3 ESRC studentship (fully funded Masters and PhD plus maintenance)

Links

• The CoGS study
• European Research Group on Attitudes to Ageing
• IDEAL project
• Centre for the Study of Group Processes

Back to top